Artificial limb



(No Model.) 2 Shee'tas-Slleet l. E. H. ERICKSON.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

Patented June I6, 1896.

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' ARTIFICIAL LIMB. y No. 661,979. Patented June 16, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERIOK II. RIOKSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

SPECIFICATION forming' part Of Letters Patent NO. 561,979, dated June 16, 1896.

v Application led' January 28, 1896. Serial No. 577,097. (No model.)

To all whom it Maryam/warn:

Be it known that I, Enron H. ERICKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Limbs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to artificial limbs; and it consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as hereinafter shown and described7 and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of an artificial limb with my improvements embraced therein. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the foot portion of the limb. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side View of the upper portion of the body of the limb and the 'slip-socket, and Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line X Xof Fig. 4, looking upward. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail illustrating the manner of arranging the stop-guide between the lower-limb section and the slipsocket. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail of the slip-socket-supporting springs, illustrating the manner of supporting them. Fig. S is a rear elevation of the upper part of the lower-limb section and the slip-socket, illustrating a modification in the manner of arranging the slip-socket-supporting springs. Fig; 9 is a cross-sectional view on the line y y of Fig. S, looking downward. Fig. 10 is a sectional detail illustrating the manner of connecting the slip-socket-supporting springs. Fig. 11 is a rear elevation ofA the slip-socket removed. Fig. 12 is a rear elevation of the upper portion of the main body-section. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the elastic webbing hook-clamps fast to a section of webbing, and Fig. 14 is a similar view with the webbing removed. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of one end of one of the strips of webbing removed. Fig. 1G is a perspective view from below, and Fig. 17 is a perspective view from above of the bottom plate of the slipsocket detached.

A' is the lower-limb section, preferably cast in one piece, of aluminium,with the walls just thick enough to secure the necessary stren gth, and hinged at a' to the foot-section in the ordinary manner, as shown.

The body B of the foot-section is formed of wood, and preferably with an aluminium shell or casing B2. The foot-section B' is provided with a cavity a2 formed through it, and in which a coiled spring a3 is secured by its ends at CL4 a5 to the Wooden bodyB', and with its center coil extended at o. to form a hook to receive the lower end of a flexible cord or loop a7, the upper end of the cord a7 being supported by a hook a2 on the interior of the lower-limb shell A', as shown. By this simple means the force of the spring a2 is exerted to keep the toe end of the foot-section pressed upward in its normal position and return it to its normal position when released in the act of walking, thus securing the requisite f ankle motion.

By arranging the spring a3 in the form of a coil I am enabled to use a much greaterlength of wire in a very much smaller space than could be used in any other shape, thus securing a much more durable spring than in any other shape. Y

Formed across the lower-limb section A' at a point above the ankle-joint is a diaphragm or cross-partition A2, having an upWardlyj working valve b therein, and with one or more perforations b2 through the shell A' below the cross-partitions, so that air-currents are free to pass into the shell A' below the cross-partition and pass upward through the valve b', but cannot pass backward again into the space below the cross-partition, the object to be hereinafter explained.

Surrounding the interior of the shell A', some distance down from the top, is a shoulder d', and ltting into the shell A' above this shoulder is the socket to receive the stump of the severed limb. This socket is formed of the interior portion D', preferably of light Wood, and which is iitted to the stump of the severed limb, and the external shell D2, which its the interior of the shell A', and also fits closely on the portion D', as shown, and will be preferably of aluminium, the same as the shell A.

The two portions D' D2 are covered on all sides with buckskin or other suitable soft .leather or other substance, as indicated at e,

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soft covering. The shell D2 is formed with a shoulder d2, corresponding to the shoulder d", and adapted t-o rest thereon when the socket is moved downward to a suiiicient extent.

The portion of the socket below the shoulder d2 is tapered slightly, and the interior of the other when the amputation is near or at the anklejoint. lVhen the amputation is just below the knee, the lower end of the socket will be provided with a bottom plate E', having a central perforation g', and with a ring E2 upon its upper side, forming a flange and projecting into the lower end of the socket, as shown, and secured in place by rivets or screws.

g2 g3 are two coiled springs with their ends at g4 g5 QG g7 projecting laterally and resting beneath the plate E, and with the central coil ot' each spring extended laterally in opposite directions, as at g8 gg, and resting over hooks gm g on the interior of the shellA, as shown. The ends of the springs g2 g3 are supported between ears Q12 Q12, projecting downward from the ends of the opening g', with plugs g14 fitting into the ends of the springs and secured in place by screws Q15, the plugs being formed with grooves encircling theirexteriors to fit the interiors of the wires of the coils, so as to retain them in position. By this arrangement the force of the springs g g2 is exerted to keep the socket normally in its upward position and return it to its upward position after bei-ng released in the act of walking.

W'hen the amputation is at or near the ankle-joint, the bottom plate E cannot be employed, as the stump of the severed limb will project too far down, and in that event Iemploy springs formed of elastic webbing F', as shown in Figs. 8,. 9, and lO, the upper ends of the webbing being connected to the shell A and the lower ends being attached to the socket, the spring force of the webbing being exerted to keep the socket normally in its upward position. lVhen this form of spring is employed, the shell A is provided with elongated slots h at suitable intervals, one for each spring, through which the webbing operates, cross-bars h2 being provided at the upper ends of the slots 7L to support the upper ends of the webbing.

The ends of the webbing are provided-with hooks h3 h4 to engage with the bars h2 and with the shoulders cl2 of the sockets D D2, as shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10. These hooks h3 hiL are attached to the webbing in a novel j leading to the exit-holes m'.

manner, which is an important feature of lny invention.

The hooks are formed of two thicknesses of sheet metal bent over upon itself and spread apart at its lower part to form two plates h5 7L, embracing the ends of the webbing, the plate h5 having ears h7 hs, adapted to be bent over upon the two plates h5 706 after the webbing is in place between them.

After the webbing is in place between the plates the latter are firmly compressed by any suitable implement and the two plates indented at several points by a sharp-pointed implement to press the metal into the webbing and prevent its removal from between the plates.

The manner of constructing the hooked clasps is more clearly shown in Figs, 13 and 14.

The socket is prevented from turning in the shell A by forming a blind slot t" in the shell D2, and iitting into it is a` stop t2, secured by a screw 3 to the interior of the shell A', the slot e" being long enough so that the socket may freely move upward and downward over the stop; but the latter by being` attached to the shell A will prevent the socket from turning in the shell.

m are holes formed through the shell A in a circle near its upperend, while similar holes m2 are formed entirely through all the parts D D2 c, making the socket, and each perpendicular set of the perforations m2 are connected on the exterior of the shell D2 by blind slots m2, so that no mat-ter at what point the socket may be there will always be free communication between the holes m and m2. The holes fm' m2 and connecting-grooves on coact with the valve b and perforation b2 to secure a perfect forced ventilation of the stump and the interior of the artificial limb, as will be readily understood.

The stump of the severed limb, being clothed with one or m-ore thicknesses of stocking or sock, fits the socket closely and is at the same time compressible away from the inner surface of the socket, while the exterior of the socket, being covered with buckskin or other soft material, likewise iit-s the body portion somewhat closely.

The parts being thus constructed, when the stump with its attached socket is drawn upward in the act of walking a vacuum is formed, which the ordinary atmospheric pressure finds easier to overcome by pressing upward the valve Zi', which oiiers a very slight resistance, than to force its way inward against the stocking upon the stump or the leather covering of the socket, which press with some force against the entrances to the passages Then when the stump and its attached socket move downward in the act of walking, a positive pistonlike action takes place, and the air, being un able-toescape through the now closed valve, Iforces its way upward between the stocking and socket and escapes throu gh the discharge- By this means a positive and forced holes.

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ventilation is secured at each step, which is a very desirable result, especially in warm weather.

Surrounding the shell A near the top is a metal band G, having ears G2 G3 projecting upward and providcd on their upper ends with sockets G4 G5 to form the lower parts of the hinges of the thigh-socket H, the other portions G6 G7 of the hinges being formed on the lower ends of the side straps G8 G9, attached to the thigh-socket, as shown.

The ears G2 G3 are formed with shoulders n n2, as shown in Fig. 8, to rest upon the upper edge of the shell A', which thus assists in supporting the band and ears in place, so that the downward pressure will be borne principally by the shell A and not by the rivets or screws securing the band in place. This band by encircling the section A greatly strengthens it, and also strengthens and supports the knee-joint, especially from side strains.

The valve t shown is a simple disk moving loosely in a casing; but any other desired form of valve may be employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new isl. In an artificial limb, a body portion having elongated slots therethrough and with a bar across the upper portion of each of said slots, a socket fitting the stump of the severed limb and slidable within said body portion, strips of elastic webbing fitting through said slots and having metal hooks attached to the ends of said elastic webbing and adapted to hook over said cross-bars and beneath shoulders upon said slidable socket, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an artificial limb, the body portion having an inwardly-operating valve and with perforations near the top thereof, a socket tting the stump of the severed limb and adapted to be moved upward and downward within said body portion in the act of walking and having perforations corresponding to the perforations in said body portion, whereby forced ventilation is secured, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an artilicial limb, a body portion having an internal shoulder and tapered for a distance below said shoulder, a socket fitting the stump of the severed limb and with its lower portion tapered externally to correspond to the internal tapered portion of said body portion, Asubstantially as describedtand for the purpose set forth.

4. In an artificial limb, the body portion, a socket tting the stump ofthe severed limb and slidable within said body portion, a plate attached to the lower end of said socket and with a central opening and having downwardprojecting ears, coiled springs between said ears and with the endsresting beneath said plate and with the central coils extended and supported by hooks to said body portion, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an artificial limb, a body portion having an internal projection, a socket tting the stump of the severed limb and slidable within said body portion and with a slot tting over said internal projection on said body portion, whereby said socket while free to move upward and downward within said body portion, will not turn therein, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an articial limb, a body portion, a band encircling said body portion, ears proj ecting upward from said band and with one member of the knee hinged upon the upper ends and with shoulders resting on the upper edge of said body portion, the thigh-socket having straps with the other member of the knee hinge thereon and fitting the hinge members on said ears, whereby the body portion is supported and the downward strains borne by the body portion, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VERICK H. ERICKSON.

In presence of- LEWIS D. MANN, C. N. WooDwARD. 

